Blogging The Boys
Rookie battleground: Cowboys vs. Eagles breakdown for draft picks/UDFAs
The NFL is a young man’s game, so each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com)
Tyler Booker (OG)
First Round
Last year’s rookie series started with a Tyler and this season that trend continues with Tyler Booker. The Alabama man-mover has been getting on with business and his on-field flashes in preseason games were good. It’s clear he’s much more effective at run blocking over pass blocking, but that’s not to say he’s bad in pass protection. On his limited snap count in preseason game for Dallas, Booker played 15 passing sets and allowed no pressures or sacks. It’s not a huge sample size to judge anything but it does add some confidence.
In college he played 1,035 passing plays and allowed only two sacks during his collegiate career. In the SEC, that’s impressive. But now he has to face this Eagles impressive inside pass rush which will put him to the test. Keeping Dak Prescott clean is key here and you can be sure the Eagles coaching staff will crash hard toward Booker and really put the rookie guard under stress for his debut regular season appearance.
Grade: N/A
Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE)
Second Round
In landing the extremely athletic and talented Boston College Eagles’ pass rusher, the Cowboys are hoping that landing the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Ted Hendricks award winner will develop into the team’s next Micah Parsons. “E-Z” is a dominant defender, not only did he lead Boston College and the ACC in sacks (16.5), he also led in tackles for loss (21) and was second on the team in total tackles (80). He’s basically combining elite defensive end stats with linebacker stats. It will take time to adjust but there should be little doubt that Ezeiruaku will develop very nicely into an effective edge defender for Dallas.
Grade: N/A
Shavon Revel Jr. (CB)
Third Round
Currently on Non-Football injury list (NFI)
Jaydon Blue (RB)
Fifth Round
Panic set in at Oxnard when Blue went down with an ankle injury and then looked like he reaggravated something in the final preseason game. The good news is this isn’t something long term and his skills will most certainly be needed this season. Brian Schottenheimer came out after the Atlanta Falcons game and said that Blue’s injury wasn’t anything to be concerned about and he’s been seen on the practice field ahead of the season opener. His speed has the chance to be a game-changer against the Eagles who are susceptible to giving up yards to running backs flying out on the flat as an extra receiver, so Blue would be crucial here. This all depends on his health which needs to be observed this week for any further updates.
Grade: N/A
Shemar James (LB)...
